Canadian fire smoke infiltrates U.S., potential for prolonged presence.
Canadian wildfire smoke spreads to central U.S., may persist, caution health and weather authorities. Air quality alerts issued in multiple states, such as Nebraska, Washington, Montana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, while Wyoming receives a special weather statement regarding air quality.
Later in the day, dense smoke is expected to move eastward towards the Midwest, impacting major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Canada experiences exceptionally intense fire season, surpassing previous years’ combined area burned. Alberta’s devastating wildfires alone have consumed over 150 times the average area compared to the past five years by this time, as reported by CNN.
Nebraska faces the impact of Canadian wildfire smoke, leading to hazardous air quality and reduced visibility across eastern Nebraska and Iowa. The National Weather Service in Omaha advised limiting outdoor activities during poor air quality conditions through tomorrow morning, as tweeted on Thursday.
The Omaha office of the service stated on Thursday afternoon that wildfire smoke has started entering the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas. Visibility is expected to decrease to 1-2 miles in the next few hours, and air quality will deteriorate to the unhealthy range for sensitive groups.
The health department in Douglas County, eastern Nebraska (including Omaha), cautioned that smoke may persist until Saturday. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index revealed “very unhealthy” air quality in several regions, including parts of the Rockies, the Great Plains, and the Midwest. Specifically, the Nebraska Panhandle and northeast corner of the state were affected by this early Friday.
